Despite AMA Guidelines, Few Teens Meet With Doctors One-On-One

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A new Illinois law aims to boost flu shot rates for healthcare workers by requiring state-licensed facilities to offer the flu shot to all employees and only allow medical or religious exemptions. flickr/niaid/CC BY 2.0
3fca8f71-e9c4-4deb-b4ad-1643818e5083
A new Illinois law aims to boost flu shot rates for healthcare workers by requiring state-licensed facilities to offer the flu shot to all employees and only allow medical or religious exemptions. flickr/niaid/CC BY 2.0

Despite AMA Guidelines, Few Teens Meet With Doctors One-On-One

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About half of all teenagers in the U.S. have never visited a doctor without a parent or guardian present, according to a new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The American Medical Association in 1992 suggested children start having private doctor visits, sans parent or guardian, by age 13. But in the years since, parents and teens have been reluctant to embrace private or semi-private medical visits at a young age.

The new study revealed that parents and children mostly agree on the importance of private visits, though they tend to disagree when it comes to the types of medical services that should fall under that jurisdiction.

Morning Shift talks with Dr. Jon Klein, professor and executive head of pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, about the study’s findings, and what parents can do to help prepare their teen for adolescent health care visits.

GUEST: Dr. Jon Klein, Professor and Senior Associate Head of Department of Pediatrics at University of Illinois at Chicago

LEARN MORE: Despite AMA guidelines, about half of teens have never talked to doctor alone, UIC study finds (Chicago Tribune, 11/24/18)

Parents, kids actually agree about confidential medical care (UIC, 11/14/18)